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Who are "the" migrants from African countries who come illegally into the European Union? They sometimes talk about them as if they were a homogenous group - and they are being scolded to score politically.
Above all: people who have left their homeland to start a safer, better life in a foreign country. Away from lack of prospects, poverty, lack of state welfare.
The Uno Development Program (UNDP) has dedicated an elaborate survey to you, the result of which has now been published under the title "Scaling Fences" and is available to SPIEGEL.
Around 3000 adults from 43 African countries were surveyed. Not included in the analysis are those who stated war or political persecution as the reason. What remained were: people from Africa who were looking for a better life in Europe but who were not allowed to do so because of European immigration rules. The interviewers met her in tent cities in the Spanish town of Lepe, where they worked in greenhouses. But also: in their rental apartments with partners and children in Madrid, Rome or Frankfurt.
The evaluation of the questionnaires shows: Some alleged certainties about immigrants from African countries in this country vote. Others do not - in terms of their social background, as well as their decision to emigrate.
Where do the immigrants come from?
Almost three-quarters (71 percent) of the surveyed immigrants come from comparatively prosperous and peaceful West Africa, especially Nigeria and Senegal. In addition, the immigrants are better educated than the population average in their home countries: 58 percent were in their homeland a regular job or were in a school education before they left. And her earnings were higher than the national average:
They earned significantly more - 60 percent more - than their fellow citizens in the country of origin, so they were relatively well off. Nevertheless, even half of those who had a fixed income say: life was not enough.
The vast majority of migrants were between 20 and 29 years old at the time of departure, a quarter married or firmly married. About a third of men, and even more than half of women (58 percent) already had one or more children.
From all this, the researchers deduce a conclusion - well documented elsewhere - that migration is a step that becomes possible only through economic or social improvement. As prosperity increases, people first come up with the idea and are given the opportunity to set out on the journey.
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Immigrants from Africa: "My son will have a better future than me"Why did people leave - and what would have held them back?
Education and work, both were actually present in a large proportion of the surveyed migrants who have overcome Europe's fences.
Nevertheless, the economic situation was unbearable for many. Consequently, 60 percent of respondents named work and the option of sending money to the family at home as the most important reason for their journey.
However, the researchers point out that this was almost never the only reason. Almost all named two or more reasons. The order is interesting: The most frequently cited argument - in addition to the money - was for 26 percent bad governance and the security situation in the home.
Europe is having a hard time on African migrants with a multitude of border management measures. There are no practical ways - besides taking a course of study or a well-paid job, which is certain from the outset.
That's why more than 1,000 people drowned in 2019 in an attempt to cross the Mediterranean on unseaworthy boats. And many - some say, even more than at sea - are dying of thirst in the Sahara, through which a journey from almost every African country has to lead without an airplane.
Almost all migrants experienced this journey as terrible. Half of them were not naïve, 56 percent said they had expected dangers. Nevertheless, more than half of men and two-thirds of women say that the road to Europe was worse than expected.
This is followed by the question: what could have kept her from the arduous, expensive and dangerous journey?
Against the background of European campaigns to deter migrants already before their departure two answers are particularly exciting: Neither more information about the actual life in Europe, nor more information about the dangers of the journey would have prevented the migrants to go on their way , Rather, the question was "what could have stopped you?", The answer in most cases was "nothing". In second place respondents named "a better economic situation in the home country".
This is also astonishing, because life in Europe proves to be extremely harsh for immigrants from Africa forced into illegality. Compared to the claim of most people to make money and to be able to send something back to their home country, comparatively few are able to enter the labor market.
This is mainly due to the state prohibition of work: Although the survey also surveyed migrants who have been living in Germany for more than ten years, Gros said (64 percent) that they are unlikely to work in their host country. Those who find a job often work under their qualifications. One fifth of the men work as fruit and vegetable pickers, more than one third of the women are cleaning staff or domestic helpers. If they still work, the average salary is below the respective minimum wage of the host country.
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An important motive is to support the families at home - and that succeeds after all, 78 percent of working migrants, and they send almost as much money home, as they have previously earned on average in their home countries.
Although relatives have to listen luxuriously to an average wage of $ 1020 per month as determined by the study, this is of course low on European prices. The researchers also calculated: Purchasing power-adjusted, however, low wage earners in Europe still earn much better than they would in their country of origin.
From a European perspective, the housing situation is dramatic. It improves from year to year, the longer migrants are in Europe - but the numbers for migrants arriving between 2005 and 2010 are still often precarious.
Almost two out of three immigrants from this group made it to a rented apartment, some subsidized by the state. But: one in six still lives in a dorm or camp after about a decade. And more than one in ten is homeless.
Racism in Europe is almost inevitably hard on African immigrants, as they are recognizable to everyone as migrants. Thirteen percent became victims of a crime in the six months leading up to the interviews, and in more than 50% of cases, this was verbal, and in almost 30% of cases even a physical attack.
It is amazing that the majority of migrants still enjoy living in Europe, at least in terms of merit and security. Almost all find their lives better in this regard than in Africa. Restrictions experience them emotionally and in coexistence: Here, every third person says that life is worse than in his country of origin.
From the answer, the researchers deduce that Europe should urgently change its policy towards people from African countries: who has managed to make money and also to send home, said to want to return to Africa in the medium term. In addition, a part still indicated that illegality prevented them even a return trip, even if they wanted to return to the old home.
So, if it were easier to find a place to stay and work, the authors argue that there is a chance that migrants will return. This allows so-called "circular migration".
On the other hand, those who do not earn any money because of discrimination or unexplained residence - if possible for ever.
This article is part of the project Global Society, for which our reporters report from four continents. The project is long-term and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is the project Global Society?
Under the title Global Society, reporters from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe will be reporting on injustices in a globalized world, socio-political challenges and sustainable development. The reportages, analyzes, photo galleries, videos and podcasts appear in the Politics Department of SPIEGEL. The project is long-term and will be supported over three years by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Are the journalistic contents independent of the foundation?
Yes. The editorial content is created without the influence of the Gates Foundation.
Do other media have similar projects?
Yes. Major European media such as "The Guardian" and "El País" have created similar sections on their news pages with "Global Development" or "Planeta Futuro" with the support of the Gates Foundation.
Was there already similar projects at SPIEGEL ONLINE?
SPIEGEL ONLINE has already implemented two projects in recent years with the European Journalism Center (EJC) and the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The "Expedition The Day After tomorrow" on Global Sustainability Goals and the journalistic refugee project "The New Arrivals" Several award-winning multimedia reports on the topics of migration and escape have emerged.
Where can I find all the publications on the Global Society?
The pieces can be found at SPIEGEL ONLINE on the topic page Global Society.